The city government has prepared a fitting program of activities in remembrance of what is now widely known as the Zamboanga Siege in September 2013, two years after.

Mayor Beng Climaco said yesterday the second anniversary of the siege on Wednesday, Sep 9, will be a day of prayer and du’waa for peace in Zamboanga City.

Basically, she said, the program on Sept. 9 honors the fallen and the unsung heroes of the siege, the civilian victims, the police and military forces who risked their lives in defense of Zamboanga.

One of the activities will be the hoisting of Philippine flag at Sitio Sumatra or Sumariki, a deep mangrove area in Sta. Catalina, which was one of the memorable locations of the siege where the government forces and the attackers belonging to the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) Misuari faction engaged in heavy fighting.

City Hall will also tie up with the Barangay Council of Sta. Catalina under Chairman Jimmy Villaflores for other own activities dubbed “A Day to Remember in September.”

It’s been two years since the infamous siege on Zamboanga, and Mayor Climaco admitted that the journey to recovery and building back a better Zamboanga is far from over yet.

“We still have a long way to trek in terms of permanent shelters of the internally displaced persons (IDPs). We still have problems in electricity and water, but we are addressing them,” the mayor said.

She assured the permanent settlers of Leha-Laha that they will be given priority for the permanent shelters in the area.

As this developed, the chief executive announced that Pres. Aquino has approved the P50-million funds for the joint command post at Mendeva property in Rio Hondo, bringing to P124 million the total amount for the purpose.

Climaco explained the command post will be manned by composite security forces from the police, military, navy and coast guard, among others. Security units will likewise be set up in the adjoining areas like Sumariki, Layag-Layag, Hongkong, Pattah, Leha-Leha, believed to be entry points of lawless elements.

“These are vital military-police installations so that we can deter the entry of lawless groups,” she said.— Vic Larato